Wrench.



J. E. WORTMAN.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18. 1916.

1,207,1 18. Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

INVENTOR GM 5. WW

ATTORNEV UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES E. WORTMAN, OF KALISPELL, MONTANA.

WRENCH.

Application filed January 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES E. IVORTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalispell, in the county of Flathead and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I/Vrenches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wrenches and the primary object thereof resides in the provision of means for pivotally connecting the outer jaw to the shank as well as resilient means for removably holding the movable outer jaw in engagement with a piece of work and thereby permit of the eflicient operation of the wrench.

Another object of my invention resides in the provision of a novel guiding and reinforcing means embodying a pair of links for pivotal connection with both the rigid inner aw and the movable outer aw thereby guiding the outer jaw during operation, and preventing unnecessary movement of the same.

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of my invention taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 in the direction in which the arrow points; and Fig. 3 represents a front elevational view of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like and corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide a shank 1, the inner end of which constitutes a handle, while the opposite end is reduced to provide shoulders 2. An inner jaw 3 having an opening 4 therethrough is associated with the reduced end, and abuts the shoulders 2, being maintained in a substan tially rigid position through the medium of a pin 5. The outer surface of the rigid aw Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 72,772.

is provided with teeth 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

For the purpose of pivotally connecting the other jaw of the wrench to the shank, I have provided a connecting link, one end of which is bifurcated to provide arms 7 which are arranged in straddled engagement and pivotally connected to the projecting reduced end of the shank through the medium of a pin 8, the opposite end of the link being reduced as illustrated by the numeral 9. The outer jaw 10 is bifurcated to provide arms 11, said arms being pivotally connected about the reduced end 9 through the medium of a suitable pin 12. The inner surface of the jaw is curved slightly arouately and is provided with a plurality of teeth 13 which cooperate with the teeth 6 in maintaining a piece of work 14 between the jaws.

In order to normally exert a tension on the movable jaw to consequently cause it to cooperate with the rigid jaw and hold an object therebetween, I have provided my improved resilient means in this instance including a leaf spring, one end of which is angularly bent and secured to the shank through the medium of suitable fastening devices 15. the intermediate portion of the spring being bent from the rear face of the wrench and thence extended toward the rear face, the free end thereof being bent outwardly and bearing against the rear end of the outer jaw as designated by the numeral 16. When the jaws are arranged about a piece of work, the tension of this spring serves to hold them in a substantially rigid position with respect to the work and thereby permit of the turning of the wrench.

For the purpose of guiding the movement of the movable jaw during movement, I have provided my arcuate' links '17, said links being arranged upon opposite sides adjacent the rear ends of the jaws and pivotally connected at their respective extremities through the medium of pins 18, bearings 19 being provided on the inner faces of the links to facilitate the pivotal connection. These links also serve to prevent transverse movement of the wrench during operation and thereby facilitate the connection of the movable jaw.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When it is desired to use this wrench, the jaws 3 and 10 are pulled away from each desire it to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details shown, however I desire that great stress be laid upon the arrangement of the means for pivotally mounting the movable jaw as well as the links for preventing unnecessary movement of the movable jaw during operation. Attention is also directed to the connecting link between the shank and the movable jaw, said link being so pivoted as to permit of the jaws contacting with each other and also allowing the movable jaw to be folded into an extended position.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can be easily seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, containing but a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

It ill be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and with- Gopies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

out sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. A wrench including a shank, a rigid inner jaw thereon, a connecting link pivotally mounted on the projecting outer end of the shank, an outer jaw pivotally connected to the free end of the link, means for guiding and limiting the movement of the outer aw, and a curved leaf spring having one end connected to the shank adjacent the rigid jaw and the outer end thereof exertingits tension on the outer movable jaw whereby the movable jaw will cooperate with the rigid jaw and maintain an object therebetween.

2. A wrench including a shank having a reduced end, a rigid inner jaw on the re duced end, a connecting link pivotally associated with the projecting reduced end, an outer jaw pivotally connected to the free end of the link, arcuate links pivotally connected at their respective extremities to said jaws upon opposite sides thereof for guiding and limiting the movement of the movable jaw, and a leaf spring connected to the shank and bearing against the movable jaw whereby the movable jaw will cooperate with the rigid jaw and maintain an object therebetween. In testimony whereof I aftiii my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

JAMES E. JVORTMAN. lVitnesses LEoNmAs VVORTMAN, JOSEPH NUNN.

Washington, D. G. 

